($1,075+) Riverside, CA to Chicago, IL Movers

Full-service moving costs from Riverside, CA to Chicago, IL

A full-service interstate moving company handles everything on the 1,981-mile move from Riverside, California, to Chicago, Illinois, with prices running from $1,323 - $11,252. Professional packing of all your boxes adds $363 - $2,420 if you want a fully hands-off experience. Shipment weight and the distance between Riverside and Chicago are the two biggest drivers of your final price. Locally, Riverside movers tend to run around $239 as a base rate plus $75/hour per mover, for comparison.

Here's a breakdown of full-service moving costs by home size from Riverside to Chicago:

• Studio apartment / 1 bedroom: $1,323 - $5,078
• 2 - 3 bedrooms: $3,438 - $7,490
• 4+ bedrooms: $6,551 - $11,252

Packing, storage, shuttle fees, and added coverage can stack on top of the base price. See the full add-ons and specialty services table below for what each runs from Riverside to Chicago.

Specialty moving services from Riverside, CA to Chicago, IL

Specialty needs vary by market: 52% of Riverside movers offer storage-in-transit, compared to 60% nationally. In Chicago, 60% of movers offer the same service.

What are the best full-service movers from Riverside to Chicago?

Illinois Movers’ and Warehousemen’s Association membership is a quick way to confirm a mover is legitimate in Illinois, on top of the picks below.

1. Safeway Moving (4.9/5 stars): Safeway Moving is the best overall value on this route. Flat-rate pricing means no surprise charges on moving day, and their support team is consistently rated among the most responsive in the industry.
2. American Van Lines (4.9/5 stars): American Van Lines is the most experienced mover here, with 30+ years in business since 1995. AVL is one of the few national carriers that uses full-time in-house crews instead of contracted labor.
3. Allied Van Lines (4.2/5 stars): Allied Van Lines is best for contents coverage, with fragile-only packing, 24/7 shipment monitoring, and an optional full-value protection plan that covers damage, loss, and breakage.

Moving container costs from Riverside, CA to Chicago, IL

Moving containers from Riverside, California, to Chicago, Illinois, cost between $1,503 and $5,672. You load everything on your own schedule (U-Haul gives you 3 days and PODS gives you 30). When you're ready, the company takes care of getting the container from point A to point B. Need more time than that? Extra storage in Riverside typically runs around $100/month.

Take a look at moving container pricing by home size from Riverside to Chicago:

• Studio apartment / 1 bedroom: $1,503 - $3,030
• 2 - 3 bedrooms: $1,923 - $4,038
• 4+ bedrooms: $2,773 - $5,672

What other costs come with moving containers?

• Moving labor: Because loading is on you with a container move, hourly labor help is a popular add-on. In Riverside, CA, two movers for roughly five hours costs around $847, according to moveBuddha data. Compare the best labor-only movers nationwide
• Storage: After the first month, ongoing rental fees kick in. A small container (7 - 8 feet) averages about $91 per month, while a 12- to 16-foot unit runs around $182 per month.
• Access: Most major container companies serve both Riverside, CA, and Chicago, IL, but confirm a facility is within reasonable distance if you need to retrieve items while in storage.
• Added contents protection: Full-value protection provides broader coverage than the standard liability in your contract. It typically costs 1% - 2% of your declared shipment value, about $500 - $1,000 on $50,000 worth of belongings.

What are the best moving containers Riverside to Chicago?

1. Units Moving and Portable Storage (4.3/5 stars)
2. U-Pack (5.0/5 stars)
3. MovingYourself (5.0/5 stars)

Moving truck rental costs from Riverside, CA to Chicago, IL

A rental truck for this 1,981-mile move from Riverside, California, to Chicago, Illinois, costs between $1,097 and $3,148. The base rate covers the vehicle only; budget for:

• Fuel for the drive: $763 - $872
• Daily insurance: $36/day
• Equipment rentals: $8 - $24
• Riverside daily rental rate: $19 - $39
• Per-mile fee beyond your free allowance: $0.79 - $1.09

These are typical moving truck rental costs from Riverside to Chicago based on home size:

• Studio apartment / 1 bedroom: $1,097 - $2,248
• 2 - 3 bedrooms: $1,249 - $2,726
• 4+ bedrooms: $1,467 - $3,148

What other costs come with rental trucks?

• Moving labor: Rental trucks don't come with loaders. Hiring 2 movers in Riverside, California, for roughly 5 hours usually costs about $847.
• Gas: Fuel costs total $763 - $872 for the 1,981-mile drive, depending on whether your truck takes gas or diesel.
• Equipment: Appliance dollies, auto transport trailers, and furniture pads are separate rentals. Expect to spend between $73 and $393, depending on what you need.
• Additional insurance: Daily coverage upgrades typically add around $30.
• Lodging: Budget around $182 per night for hotel stops on the 1,981-mile drive. With 2 - 3 overnight stops, total lodging typically costs $363 - $545.

What are the best moving truck rentals from Riverside to Chicago?

1. Budget Truck Rental (4.3/5 stars)
2. Penske Truck Rental (4.0/5 stars)
3. U-Haul Truck Rental (4.2/5 stars)

The best truck rental companies for this route, based on moveBuddha's ratings.

Freight trailer costs from Riverside, CA to Chicago, IL

Freight trailers are a good fit for medium-to-large moves where you need more space than a container but don't want to drive a rental truck from Riverside, California, to Chicago, Illinois. The trailer is delivered to your address, you load it, and the carrier takes it the rest of the way.

Unlike truck rentals with flat rates, freight trailers scale with your shipment. Every additional section of trailer space you fill increases your total. A 2 - 3 bedroom long-distance move using this method runs roughly between $1,701 and $3,397.

Take a look at freight trailer costs based on home size for moves from Riverside to Chicago:

• Studio apartment / 1 bedroom: $1,380 - $2,673
• 2 - 3 bedrooms: $1,701 - $3,397
• 4+ bedrooms: $2,218 - $4,492

What other costs come with freight trailers?

• Moving labor: Freight trailers don't include loading help. In Riverside, California, hiring 2 movers for about 5 hours typically costs $847.
• More space: You only pay for the trailer footage you use, but underestimating your load can add roughly $91 - $182 per additional foot to your total.
• Time of year: Rates tend to climb during peak moving season (mid-May through mid-September) when trailer demand is at its highest.

What are the best freight companies from Riverside to Chicago?

1. MovingYourself (5/5 stars): MovingYourself is best for large moves. Best known as a top moving container option thanks to its DIY hybrid model (you load, they drive), MovingYourself also doubles as a strong freight choice with their 53-foot trucks and pay-for-the-space-you-use pricing.
2. U-Pack (5/5 stars): U-Pack is the best value freight trailer on this list. In addition to their well-known container service, U-Pack offers freight trailers that follow the same pay-by-the-foot model with no deposits or upfront fees, making them one of the most flexible freight options for budget-conscious moves.

Cost of living: Riverside, CA vs Chicago, IL

The price of the move is only part of the picture. Here is how everyday costs compare once you are settled in Chicago, side by side with Riverside on housing, income, and taxes.

Cost of living index is relative to the U.S. average of 100. Figures reflect the latest available city and state data.

Our take

For a move from Riverside, CA, to Chicago, IL, full-service movers are the most hands-off option, with costs ranging from $1,323 for a studio to $11,252 for a 4+ bedroom home on the 1,981-mile route. If you want to cut costs without doing everything yourself, moving containers from PODS or U-Pack run $1,503 - $5,672. A rental truck from Budget or U-Haul is the lowest-cost option at $1,097 - $3,148, though you'll be handling the driving and loading yourself. Safeway Moving is our top overall pick for full-service moves, with quotes starting around $3,438 for a 2-bedroom move, 30 days of free storage included, and 24/7 live customer support.

Beyond the move itself, people who've relocated to Chicago tend to point to bountiful arts and recreational activities and delicious food, though high crime rate and temperamental weather come up as common complaints. Major employers in the area include U.S. Government and Chicago Public Schools.